Ultrasound question

JET29 · January 2013

Does anyone know at how many weeks you can get an external ultrasound instead of a transvaginal ultrasound?

I'm going to see the doctor next week and I'll be 12 weeks along. They mentioned that they will probably do a dating ultrasound... should I expect the dildo cam?

Missuskeekers · January 2013

My office won't do an external until 14 weeks but I gather they are not the norm.

kateisgreat · January 2013

IDK about a dating u/s at that point, but when I had my NT scan at 12w with dd, they used the dildo cam and abdominal, so they can obviously see something with abdominal. I'd be prepared to take your pants off though.

JilllyBean · January 2013

NT scans are done at 12 externally, so I would assume they would do an external

cinderin · January 2013

JilllyBean:
NT scans are done at 12 externally, so I would assume they would do an external

yup. and I have specific directions regarding how to fill my bladder. Ick.

I would rather have the dildo cam!

JET29 · January 2013

Thanks for the responses, it's good to know that they can do an external at 12 weeks. Last time I only had one ultrasound at 20 weeks so I really had no idea what to expect.

Ktbug613 · January 2013

I have been having external ultrasounds since just over 8 weeks. I don't have to fill my bladder and we can see everything fine

amarissa85 · January 2013

I am having one tomorrow and I am pretty sure I saw the tech put down on her schedule transvag. so I think it depends on the practice.

Lkfimek13 · January 2013

I just had an external at 11 weeks and you could see just fine. Dr. wanted to do the vag one because you can take a more accurate measurement. I declined and requested they use the external only. Just ask if you don't want to do something. It's not really necessary to do the internal ones.

coraggiosa · January 2013

I just had an external ultrasound today, and I am around 10 weeks. I had to have a full bladder, but we were able to see baby perfectly!

ilovetolaugh · January 2013

I had an u/s the other day. I had an external which she saw the babe and got the heart rate. Then she did an internal and confirmed it all...

amandarins · January 2013

Mine does external at 12 weeks. I understand that I'll be poked and prodded throughout the pregnancy, but when I scheduled my first ultrasound I wish they would have told me what to expect. I just don't understand why they never specify.

anvloveskme · January 2013

I had my dating US before my first ob appt and I was 8w 1d. The tech ended up doing both because she couldn't get exact measurements externally but we saw things pretty clearly.

WashingtonQueen · January 2013

I am not sure but my 13 week ultrasound with my last pregnancy was external.

lexismom1008 · January 2013

I had one at 11 weeks with my first pregnancy. It was transvaginal.

cali3674 · January 2013

ilovetolaugh:
I had an u/s the other day. I had an external which she saw the babe and got the heart rate. Then she did an internal and confirmed it all...

I had exactly the same experience last week at 9w4d.

Leahks77 · January 2013

My office does external at first and if they can see everything fine they never do an internal.... I had an external at 7 wks to "take a peek" (and saw HB) and then they scheduled an official dating u/s at a different facility the following week. Because they saw HB with external they said internal wasn't needed. I think everywhere is different....

CelticWife · January 2013

From 8 weeks on, my office tries an external first. If they can't get the measurements, then they try the transvaginal.

CABeachMom11 · January 2013

I think not til 2nd tri

girlmama83 · January 2013

Every office must be so different. I've had one ultrasound so far at 8 weeks and it was external. I was expecting internal but she said only if they couldn't see anything abdominally. We saw the baby and heartbeat.

johnson8586 · January 2013

Ktbug613:
I have been having external ultrasounds since just over 8 weeks. I don't have to fill my bladder and we can see everything fine

Same. I had one at 7w 1d and 11w 1d. Didn't have to do anything special for it and could see the little squirt squirming around just fine!

cole2144 · January 2013

My dating ultrasound was external at 5 weeks 6days. They thought I was a couple weeks further along though.

Ford8754 · January 2013

Just had a belly scan and I'm 11 weeks 6 days. We saw everything. So sweet!!! It's little arms and legs kicking around. I could watch it all day if they'd let me!

aquangel · January 2013

My dating u/s was done ~7 weeks and was done internal but my surprise 11w u/s (when the doctor couldn't find the HB with the doppler) and 12w NT were both done external. I didn't have to drink any additional water in preparation and if you do end up with an internal, they actually ask that you empty your bladder.

That.Just.Happened · January 2013

I had my first appt yesterday, at exactly 10w, and had an external US. It was a nice surprise, I was expecting an internal since that's what I had with DD at my first 2 appts. But I went in a lot earlier with her (6w I think).

12w you should definitely have an external, that's about the time they do the NT scan and that is definitely external.

Mrs.Handy · January 2013

After 12 weeks they will do both at our U/S place.

They do the external first, then you empty your bladder and you have fun with the dildo cam.

V&G101808 · January 2013

I had a transvag at 7 weeks and a regular external u/s at 11 weeks.

The tech was able to see everything perfectly fine and never suggested trying another transvag.

tokenhoser · January 2013

My NT scan at 12 w 2 d was an abdominal u/s. Your weight could play into it - it's harder to get a good scan through fat. Sorry to be blunt, but it's just physics.

sabrinatolga · January 2013

Hahahaha...I like that. Dildo cam. lol

kateisgreat:
IDK about a dating u/s at that point, but when I had my NT scan at 12w with dd, they used the dildo cam and abdominal, so they can obviously see something with abdominal. I'd be prepared to take your pants off though.

Lynchabbi · January 2013

At my office they do vaginal at your first vist and then your second one they don't do a u/s at all and the third one they start doing it external. But I'm hoping my second one i hope I can talk them in to letting me see it. :

nicababy · January 2013

I'm sure every office has different policies, but ours is to do transvaginal scans on anyone less than 8 weeks. After that its up to the tech's discretion. Usually you can see well enough externally after 8 weeks, but if baby is in a bad position or mom is quite overweight sometimes we have to scan internally to see clearly.

cajunrunner · January 2013

My dating us at 6w3d was external.

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